Dunedin Outpaces the Tortugas
DUNEDIN, FL - The Dunedin Blue Jays (9-9) ran their streak to three-straight wins behind nine runs and 13 hits in defeating the Daytona Tortugas (10-7) 9-6 in the series opener on Sunday. Leadoff man, Roemon Fields, ignited the offense with two hits and three RBI.
The Jays plated the first three runs of the game through the first two innings. Christian Lopes tallied the first run by scoring on a Dawel Lugo single in the first. In the second, Fields recorded his first hit of the game, in the form of a double, plating two runs.
Daytona received all of its run production through the middle three innings. The Tortugas scored twice in the fourth, once in the fifth and three times in the sixth to gain a 6-4 advantage.
Dunedin's pitching staff then zoned in and kept Daytona off of the scoreboard for the final three innings. LHP Chad Girodo entered in the 8th and shut Daytona down earning his fourth hold of the season, he carries a 1.04 ERA on the year. RHP Wil Browning earned his Florida State League leading sixth save of the season during a perfect ninth, he holds a 1.00 ERA.
Before the Girodo and Browning entered, Dunedin regained the lead in the sixth with four-straight hits. Mike Reeves and Fields tallied back-to-back RBI singles in the inning. The club later tacked on two more runs without the benefit of an RBI hit in the eighth. Reeves doubled in the frame that including two intentional walks and a wild pitch.
Starter RHP Brad Allen went five frames, allowed three runs and struck out five. RHP Jon Wandling was tabbed the winner in his debut with Dunedin this year. RHP Nick Travieso suffered the loss for Daytona.
These same two clubs match up again tomorrow, Monday, April 27 at 6:30 PM for game two of three. RHP Jayson Aquino (1-1) gets the nod for Dunedin against RHP Sal Romano (1-1).
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